Dogs

Southwest Florida is Dog Friendly!

There is no shortage of dog-friendly activities and destinations in Southwest Florida. From dog parks and beaches to restaurants and shops, Southwest Florida has always been known as a dog friendly place to live, play and work.

With award-winning beaches located just minutes from your doorstep, it doesn’t seem right to leave man’s best friend behind. Luckily, Southwest Florida is home to a handful of dog friendly beaches from Naples and Fort Myers to the gorgeous white sands of Sanibel Island. The best part is that the community takes pride in the beauty of our area and these dog-friendly beaches are no exception. If it’s good enough for our pooches, it’s good enough for us, and you’ll often see volunteer groups working hard to keep these beaches as pristine as the neighboring human-only shorelines.

It’s also typical to find paw-printed water bowls outside storefronts and restaurants as you stroll down 5th Avenue and Third Street in downtown Naples, roaming the boutiques at Mercato, or as you’re perusing the courtyard settings at Coconut Point and Miromar Outlets. Let’s face it, your dog is into shopping and being pampered just as much as you are, so an afternoon that may include a stop at a specialty dog store like Pucci & Catana Luxury Pet Boutique or Fergie’s Closet Doggie Boutique is certainly not out of the question.

Southwest Florida is also home to some of the most impressive art, music, and food festivals where your furry friends will feel right at home enjoying amazing outdoor events as well as spectacular weather and an occasional snack in the park.

No matter how much you want to bring Fido along, sometimes you just have to tend to business without them. Have no fear, doggie day care is here! Yes, there are even daycare facilities and dog camps in the area for your precious, four-legged, loved one.

With all this dog-friendly energy in the air, it stands to reason that many communities in the area will also gladly welcome your pets. There are, however, a few pet policies to be aware of as you begin your search for a new home and/or before you sign any sales contracts.

Types of Pet Policies and What They MeanAllowed
If pets are allowed they will fall under one of three categories, with approval, with limits, or no approval needed. With approval means that the Homeowner’s and/or Condominium Associations will reserve the right to review a pet application and any explanation you provide before they make a decision on whether to allow your pets.

Other HOA and Condo Associations will give specific guidelines on maximum number of pets you can have and the maximum weight each pet can be.
The final scenario is when no approval is needed and you and your pet can stay calm and carry on. This is a classification you’ll typically see when purchasing a single-family home. Basically, you can have as many dogs or other pets as you want, of any size.

Not Allowed
Unfortunately, not everyone is dog and pet friendly. We think this category is pretty self-explanatory.

How to Find the Pet Policy
Most communities have a Homeowners Association (HOA) or a Condominium Association or both depending on the structure of the neighborhoods. You can call the HOA to ask about their pet policy or reference the Rules and Regulations which can be found within the HOA and Condo documents.